Tumor necrosis factor-α enhances radiosensitivity of A549 cells / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effects of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in enhancing the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A549 cells were exposed to γ-ray with or without TNF-α treatment. MTT assay was used to evaluate the cell viability, and flow cytometry was performed to assess the cell apoptosis. Western blotting was used to observe the expression of caspase-3 protein in the exposed cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the exposed cells without TNF-α treatment, the cells treated with TNF-α showed significantly suppressed cell proliferation, increased the cell apoptosis, altered cell cycle, and increased caspase-3 protein expression after γ-ray exposure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TNF-α can enhance the radiosensitivity of A549 cells to increase the efficiency of radiotherapy with γ-ray irradiation.</p>